Protesters gather in Phoenix after Zimmerman verdict

Some people carried signs and others wore hoodies, but all protested the not guilty verdict

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A group planned a protest against the verdict for Sunday night.

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Phoenix protest after George Zimmerman verdict.

Brian Webb

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

George Zimmerman after verdict is read.

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PHOENIX - After a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin Saturday night, protests sparked in several places across the country, including in Arizona.

About 100 protesters gathered at the Federal Building at 4th Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Phoenix Sunday night.

They were demanding that civil rights charges be brought against Zimmerman.

The verdict exposed a racial divide that is still alive and well in America, some say.

"I thought it was important for white folk to be here," said Kelly Bender. "To stand in solidarity with the African-American community."

To many African-Americans this is just another example of the justice system siding with a light-skinned person, while a young black person is dead.

"I think he (Zimmerman) is guilty," said teenage protestor Daijah Reid who was there with family members. "He attacked an unarmed teenager," she said.

Many in the group prefer to call America's justice system the "injustice" system.

"I hope what we do get from the Zimmerman trial is a commitment in this country to really begin to deal with racists, it's beyond time for America to have that candid discussion," said Reverend Jarrett Maupin.

Many carried signs, several wore hoodies but all were protesting the verdict and what they think it says about America.

Leaders of the group had planned to get a petition signed demanding the civil rights investigation but at the beginning of the gathering they found out an investigation is going to happen, which drew cheers from the crowd.

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.